Thoughts on everyday life and inspiring others to contribute to life in a positive way.

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Tuesday, April 23, 2013

A Magic Feather

I’m not exactly
sure why, but Dumbo has been one of my favorite characters since I was a
toddler.I’m not sure who gave it to me,
but I even remember the stuffed animal I couldn’t part with, a baby elephant
with a red corduroy vest and big red corduroy ears.

In the Disney
movie Dumbo, a baby elephant was ‘delivered’ to Mrs. Jumbo and it had
big, floppy ears.He was made fun of and
wasn’t accepted.During one of the
circus acts, Dumbo was supposed to be at the top of the elephant pyramid, but
tripped over his ears, toppling the Big Top and injuring the other
elephants.He was banished from the act
and turned into a clown.His feelings
were hurt. But Timothy Q. Mouse felt sorry for him.Timothy convinced Dumbo that if he held a ‘Magic
Feather’ in his trunk, he could fly.When Dumbo leapt from the platform way up in the Big Top, he lost his
feather and it was only Timothy’s urgent prodding and convincing that indeed,
Dumbo flew and became the darling of the circus and turned the scorn of the other
elephants into respect.

A lot to think
about in this one.

I could talk
about acceptance and making fun of another because he or she was different.

Not today.

Legend has it
that elephants are afraid of mice.Not
sure if that’s true or not, but I thought it interesting that an “enemy” was
chosen as Dumbo’s “friend”.Upon seeing
Dumbo picked on and made fun of him, the smallest of creatures, an “enemy” came
to his defense and rescue.He became
Dumbo’s mentor, his cheerleader, his coach, his counselor and his teacher.

How often I see
individuals of all walks and stations in life looking out for someone!

Earlier this
year, there was a student trying to pump ketchup onto her tray when an air
bubble caused ketchup to burst onto her blouse and slacks.Two students saw it happen, left their lunch
and took this young lady into the bathroom to help her get cleaned up.

The interesting
thing about this story?

Only one student
knew who the girl was and only as an acquaintance.The other girl didn’t know her, but saw she
needed help.Easily, the two girls could
have laughed.Easily, the two girls
could have kept on eating their lunch.After all, they only have twenty or twenty-five minutes to do so.But they didn’t.They saw someone in need and helped out.They moved so quickly that no one had the
opportunity to laugh or make fun of the girl.

And, what of the
‘Magic Feather’?

A couple of
years ago at the beginning of the year, I showed a brief clip of Dumbo
and challenged my teachers and staff to be the Timothy Q. Mouse for at least
one student, and somehow, someway give that student a ‘Magic Feather’ to help
that student ‘fly’.

For some, it was
a challenge.It takes time.It takes effort.Sometimes, there doesn’t seem to be the
anticipated results.And sometimes,
there is no appreciation given.

But every now
and then . . .

Pat is a teacher
who has a difficult student in a difficult group of students in one class.The student was disruptive, belligerent, and
passive-aggressive, you name it.Pat
told her what was expected and reminded her when she wasn’t rising to those
expectations.Then, Pat went above and beyond.She noticed when the student met those
expectations and complimented her, said things like, “Good job!” or “Keep up
the good work!” and “I appreciate your effort!” Those sorts of things.

One Friday as
the girl left Pat’s room, she handed Pat a note thanking her for caring, for
supporting her, for being there.

Kids
notice.We notice.

All of us,
especially kids, need a Timothy Q. Mouse in their lives. There are times when we need a mentor, a
sounding board, a coach.There are times
when we need a shoulder to lean on, someone to listen to us, be silent with
us.There are times when we need
support, comfort, a friend.

And, there are
times when we need a Magic Feather to make it work.Perhaps, and to me the best thing, is that we
can be that Magic Feather for each other, for someone else.We can convince someone that flight is
possible, that it is possible to soar above the clouds and into the sun, and beyond
the horizon.

There is a lot of emotion in those old Disney movies. The scene where Dumbo is separated from his mother .... and when he visits her tear at my heart even now. As for a magic feather, I try to thank everyone I meet for their contribution. People are not thanked enough.

I think scenes in literature or in movies, even songs, where tears are shed and when there is separation or hard to deal with I know I develop a lump in my throat. Thanks for your comment, Joan. It means a lot.